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We’Ced youth reporters practice their media analysis by dissecting the song “Reagan” by political activist, Killer Mike.
“The ballot or the bullet, some freedom or some bulls—
Will we ever do it big, or keep just settling for little s—“
Ballot or a bullet referring to voting or rebelling over the promise of freedom or some bull— Will we see change or settle for the two parties and their false promises
“We brag on having bread, but none of us are bakers
We all talk having greens, but none of us own acres“
People brag about having wealth and are nowhere near the 1% of billionaires, there is no “middle class”. We may be able to own property but we don’t have meaningful control
“If none of us own acres, and none of us grow wheat
Then who will feed our people when our people need to eat“
Our land is being ruined by deforestation and more houses being built and natural land being ruined and we could eventually run out of farm land, not just farm land, but good quality, healthy, food. Those who own the farms can create extreme conditions for us to get the food.
“So it seems our people starve from lack of understanding
Cause all we seem to give them is some balling and some dancing
And some talking about our car and imaginary mansions“
Our people are so blind sided from what’s really going on in our world, we just go along with everything thinking we’re gonna be somewhere if we just live by them and how they want us to, on their way or no way.
“We should be indicted for bulls— we inciting
Hella children deaf and pretending it’s exciting“
He said that kids are getting excited and influenced by lies.
We are advertisements for agony and pain
We exploit the youth, we tell them to join a gang
We tell them dope stories, introduce them to the game
Gaining the attention of people by playing off by there negative emotions. Younger people who are growing up around disorganized neighborhoods. Making a promise that seems new but really is just a lie.
“Just like Oliver North introduced us to cocaine
In the 80s when the bricks came on military planes“
A military General and CIA Director introduced drugs into black suburbs.
“The end of the Reagan Era, I’m like number twelver
Old enough to understand the sh— change forever“
The end of Regan’s Era. He’s old enough to understand that after that era thing’s will change.
“They declared the war on drugs like a war on terror
But it really did was let the police terrorize whoever“
Providing police the power to arrest people on the basis of drug charges meant that they could use this as an excuse to target and harass anyone. Because of racial biases, this meant they had a lot of freedom to target minorities and vulnerable populations.
“But mostly black boys, but they would call us “niggers”
And lay us on our belly, while they fingers on they triggers
They boots was on our head, they dogs was on our crotches“
He says that black people always get judged as a person of their color. Police are racist and they don’t like black people and they look at them badly.
“And they would beat us up if we had diamonds on our watches
And they would take our drugs and money, as they pick our pockets
I guess that that’s the privilege of policing for some profit“
Police assume that POC aren’t capable of affording expensive items. Policing for profit allows racism to run rampant, encouraging police to literally rob and commit the crimes they are arresting people for.
“But thanks to Reaganomics, prisons turned to profits
Cause free labor is the cornerstone of US economics“
Slavery continues to be the foundation of the U.S. economy. Students at my university are leading a campaign to have our school divest from private prisons. Harvard has a $60B endorsement.
“Cause slavery was abolished, unless you are in prison
You think I am bullsh—-, then read the 13th Amendment
Involuntary servitude and slavery it prohibits
That’s why they giving drug offenders time in double digits“
Referring to the 13th amendment loophole it states that through prison involuntary servitude and slavery is acceptable. Since the Regan era and the war on drugs — has locked up brown and black people for things they might’ve done – doubling time
“If you don’t believe the theory, then argue with this logic
Why did Reagan and Obama both go after Qaddafi
We invaded sovereign soil, going after oil
Taking countries is a hobby paid for by the oil lobby
Same as in Iraq, and Afghanistan
And Ahmadinejad say they coming for Iran“
Both presidents are colonizing and invading a country and changing the diversity for profit and killing land for oil, practically destroying what once was after getting what these men want, not caring for the environment, population, and overall the world.
“They only love the rich, and how they loathe the poor
If I say any more they might be at my door“
The wealthy hold a higher mastery in society and that leaves anything under threat on a all time low standard. There are certain things that are being held from the world that can be, and are dangerous to expose which is said can be taken personally from the government to the regular living human being in society.
“Who the f— is that staring in my window
Doing that surveillance on Mister Michael Render (Killer Mike)
I’m dropping off the grid before they pump the lead
I leave you with four words: I’m glad Reagan dead“
I think people in this day and age are scared the gov. is watching us. For example, they own the phone companies and can listen to our conversations at anytime and yes, even through our phone cameras and cameras in general.
